A trembling man begs Gen. Quinn for mercy, claiming the Corrupt Ascendant deceived him and that he killed the man to avenge a blood feud. A unit analysis flags his testimony as 96% likely a lie and recommends elimination. Despite that, someone orders, "Let him go." Other officers warn about locals' grudges, propose tracing him to his faction and "wiping them all out," and shout, "Move, d*mn it!" The fleet's blunt practice of removing grudge-holders is revealed. He is spared for now, but commanders have just ordered a pending purge.